New York State Fair: Finale race notes

Yeley wins Syracuse finale & Silver Crown Title.
J.J. Yeley of Phoenix, Ariz. captured the USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown
Championship Saturday with a thrilling victory in the season-finale at the
New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y. He...

Yeley wins Syracuse finale & Silver Crown Title.

J.J. Yeley of Phoenix, Ariz. captured the USAC Weld Racing Silver Crown
Championship Saturday with a thrilling victory in the season-finale at the
New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y. He led the final three laps of
the "Little Trees Salt City 100" in his Team ASE/Ford Beast after passing
race leader Rich Tobias, Jr. exiting turn two on lap 98. Tobias spun
entering turn three and hit the outside wall and was relegated to a
17th-place finish after leading 83 laps!

Yeley started 14th in the 30-car field and worked his way to the front
quickly. He was sixth by lap six, moved into fifth on lap 13 and was fourth
by lap 16. On lap 79 he passed front-row starters Jerry Coons, Jr. and John
Heydenreich to take second.

Tobias admitted in post-race interviews to a driver error, costing him the
race, although his car was smoking most of the race from brake usage.
Tobias' father Dick, who was a USAC Sprint car regular who was fatally
injured in 1978 at Flemington, N.J.

"My car was absolutely awesome," said Yeley in victory lane. "I had no
trouble passing on the outside and a couple of drivers made mistakes which
helped me. I tried to put pressure on Tobias and was hoping he too would
make a mistake, but I have to admit these cars are a handful after having a
chance to run a modified here." Yeley also competed in Sunday's Super Dirt
Week "Eckerd 200" Modified race at the 1-mile dirt oval.

Yeley's title pursuers never caught him Saturday. Series runner-up Dave
Steele finished fifth, while Tracy Hines, who took third in the final
standings, retired from the event with a broken drive line after 84 laps.